Favorite guitar player -- no qualifications

Didn't Jimmy pass his A levels?

 

Yep in Miami. I've heard that it was either heroin or cocaine. Perhaps it was a combination of the two. If I'm not mistaken, it was the opening night of the tour.

 

Seriously?
I imagine there's hundreds of threads with this very same subject here already!

Eventually every guitar player that's sold a record will end up in threads like this.
Rather boring. Purely subjective.

 

Favorite living player, Bill Nelson. His style continues to evolve, for close to 50 years now.

Tommy Bolin for all-time favorite.

 

Sabicas

 

Alex Lifeson. His work with Rush is amazing. From early blues based licks to more classically influenced work, he's amazingly versatile. He can shred, and he can do textural work (as he did all through the 80's). Oh, and great, constantly changing tones through the decades.

 

Dave Gilmour

 

Duane Allman. Just ask anyone who called him to play on their album.

 

Electric: Otis Rush. Exquisite management of pitch and timing. 'Live in Europe' is a masterpiece of extended, free flowing soloing.
Acoustic: Bert Jansch. Intricate, original, never losing that funky pulse.
Double threat: Richard Thompson. A top five player on either.

 

I love them all. But I didn't see Mick Ronson and he'd make my top 5.

 

Well, at some point, everything gets rehashed. There's really only so many topics to discuss. Might as well join the party as complain and call the cops (to use a metaphor).

It's not high brow stuff but it is what it is. :: shrug ::

 

Wow. You must be real tight with Clapton if he knows off the top of his head who your favourite guitarist is ...

 

Johnny Marr.

He's my favorite primarily because of his amazing compositional skill in the Smiths. His music with the Smiths had a unique and inventively melodic approach, combining rich, often moody chords with gripping, sophisticated melodies. He could layer guitar parts to dazzling harmonic effect, but he could also rock out in a very visceral, direct way when the song called for it. He had a knack for coming up with these wistful parts that could perfectly evoke the feel of a rainy morning or the light of dusk in winter (for me, at least!). And as the Smiths grew, Marr grew increasingly confident with expertly varying his tone.

Of course for me, being rooted in more of a punk rock ethos, extreme technical skill is not something I seek out in the music I listen to, per se, but Johnny Marr does happen to be technically brilliant as well. As a teenager, I used to have my guitar teacher (who listened mainly only to jazz, classical, and blues) show me Smiths songs, and even he was impressed. He never made comments on other bands or guitarists, but the first time I brought him a Smiths song to show me ("Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now"), his response was, "Wow, who is this?" He actually had fun breaking down each of the guitar parts and showing them to me.

 

I didn't ask who's best. That would be subjective. I asked who's your favorite. That's not subjective at all.

I'm not bored learning about others' preferences. I find them fascinating.

What I am bored with indeed is anonymous snark.

 

There is only one choice.



Jimmy Page.

 

Yes, please "join the party" (post a comment).

But, I don't understand the impulse to "p€£ in the pool" when everyone is swimming.

It must be tough to just ignore a thread, if you disagree with the topic, and move on...

 

This is really a tough question, but I think my answer (as of right now) is Robert Fripp.

 

Pat Metheny

He has a signature sonic style of soaring atmospheric notes; through Shadows and Light, floating across the Appalachian Mountains, Across the Heartland, or As Wichita Falls.

Cinematic and Breathtaking.

And, that's just the first decade of his unique career.

 

Terry Kath.

 

If that was the case, music would become boring pretty quickly.

 

Brian May or Clarence White or Lindsey Buckingham

 

Steve Howe

 

Jorma

 

Dot Wiggin

 

Jimmy Page

His solo on the TSRTS version of No Quarter is the best thing that's ever happened, not just guitar-wise - all of human history.

Mankind's greatest achievement.